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Lightning's Thigh Graces UK Cover Of Final Fantasy XIII

Update: Well, it seems this will be the box art for North America, too, so...better get used to it. This is supposedly "official," but we're not saying it's 100% just yet.

Original Story:

Okay, so many of you weren't the biggest fans of the rumored finalized box art for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XIII. But maybe you'll like this better.

As revealed by Joystiq, this is apparently the FFXIII box art that will be seen on store shelves in the UK. This one still features the main character, Lightning, but unlike the Japanese version, she isn't riding her My Little Pony. Recent studies and surveys have found that box art is crucial to eventual sales success, although we get the feeling that FF fans will buy this one regardless of the picture on the case. Now, the only other notable aspect of this design is that Lightning seems to be a bit more...erm...revealed than past FF characters. She's showing a great deal of thigh on that box and while that's not necessarily surprising in the world of video games, it is a little surprising in the Final Fantasy universe. We can all remember Tifa's rack and Rikku's shedding of her Al-Bhed uniform, but for the most part, Square-Enix hasn't placed T&A in the limelight for their flagship franchise. It can be found, surely, but on the box itself...?

We'll have to see how the fans respond but seriously, I'd rather not see my fellow FF aficionados getting all indignant because of a little thigh. Let's not waste time focusing on it, okay? The game's gonna rule.

Comments (98 posts)

Really would anyone respond this way? I mean the industry is starting to slowly but surely be recognized as an adult industry as well as one for kids so when games that are more geared towards adults show a bit o' thigh then what is really the issue. I mean PG-13 movie posters have been known to have more provocative depictions so let's all just accept that times they are a-changing.

your still stuck on that? Have you seen Die Hard? Or any other movie for that matter? The game portraying that is even more far fetched than movies.

anyways this is not about MW2 this is about FF and theres nothing wrong with this cover at all. in fact i believe many tomb raider games showed Lara Croft this way as well. And on Heavenly Swords cover theres a lot more body shown! LEAVE IT BE!

just because she's showing some leg doesn't mean she's 'revealing'. now if she had on rikku's outfit, that's another story. one thing i wished they did was give some design in the background instead of just...white

I feel ashamed to say I don't know anyone who gets talked about as characters in this game. For those that don't know I have never played any single one now thats bad enough but considering there have been what 12 releases so far how did I miss them ? I must have been asleep or something.

As a graphic artist I must say this isn't the best. I expected a more concepty-arty look. Like with FFXII, we have Vaan,Balthier & co in some artwork on the cover. Same with Uncharted 2, we have Nate kinda sketched on the cover. This Lightning chic is too rendered against a flat white background.

Its still cool all the same. And oh, don't tell me is all about what's on the disc, am an artist so allow me to scrutinize.

Yea I remember FFX with that ocean around Tidus, that was also cool. I admire GTA box arts a lot, makes the non-gamer think its a cartoony game just by looking at the cover and will be later amazed at what's on the inside.

I agree. It's simple, sharp, focused, and most of all, classy. The North American crown usually has a "more is better" mentality, so we'll probably get a wild cover with as much as possible jammed all over it.

honestly, i don't see a point in making an article about this lolif square enix intended to use T&A in the boxart, wouldn't it have, i dunno, T&A? legs don't really fit into that category and while i admit i am attracted to lady legs (curves too :3) the only way one would see anything related to sex in the picture is if that's what they were looking to get out of it

When you write articles, you don't just present the subject matter flatly every time which in this case is the revealed box art, you want to go at it with an "angle" you see.Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 12/1/2009 3:31:53 PM

I've got to say, box art has never once influenced my purchase of a game in either direction. It's what is inside the box that matters to me. Sure, it's nice to look at, and some are better than others, but I don't spend $60 to hold the box in my hand and critique the cover art.

i saw that too but i dont think its necessary at all. final fantasy games, except the MMO, dont really need to go online. They usually give you the complete game but now that dlc is becoming the norm, i wouldnt be surprised if they have downloads afterwards. I guess 360 needs an edge even if its not needed/required.

To be honest...this cover isn't all that bad. It's simple...yes, but it actually looks pretty good to me. She's showing some skin; seduction seldom seems so serene. Hehe...gotta love the alliterations.

Is is just me or are the colors on the ps3 box brighter? The only thing disturbing about the box art is the xbox 360 logo. I mean im up for multiplatforms because it will allow more people to play but at the cost of quality is just bad. I'll still buy it day 1 for the ps3 but knowing that it could've been better just lowered my expectations.

with microsofts money and square enix greed, i believe it wont stay exclusive. sad to say that i'll need to lower my expectations on all upcoming final fantasy games. Im counting on you white knight chronicles.

sorry SE but making me wait 5 years killed the last bit of me that cared.release a new kingdom hearts game on the ps3 than will talk.till thenZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

They're secretly working on a Kingdom Hearts title that will be released alongside GoW3 on April 1st. They are going to make a grand-scaled announcement March 31st at 11:59pm. I just know it! Hehe...if only...where did Kingdom Hearts drift off too? (sniff) I can just imagine it as a PS3 exclusive, it would single-handedly convert X-box owners over to the system that "only does everything"(They should already have converted due to all our great exclusives and cool features such as bluray, free online play, on top of batteryless controllers though). But this will be the cherry on top.

i have to say, this time, both the US and Jap version boxart is ugly, i mean, look at it, it has nothing, but just a person holding a sword, ff13 is supposed to be the best jrpg of this gen, an character with a sword, and nothing else, could there be any more lazier than this? where is the art, there is no art for this cover.

usually the Jap. version box art is better, but this time, not so much better either, just the character rideing a horse, there is no fine arts in the background. huge disppointed, by looking at the cover, there is no feeling of a classic.

look at the Demon's Souls Deluxe edition or the Jap. version cover, give u a dark, mysterious and fine art feeling. nothing is shown here.Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 12/2/2009 3:18:36 AM

Why are all of you whining about box-art. I think it is normal. I have FF7 and 9 PAL versions, and you know what is on those box-art? Nothing, only Final Fantasy name on a white background. And PS2 PAL platinum versions have the same look and i think it is better than some picture. Becasue if you see Final Fantasy it is must buy and no picture will help to buy it, only for beginners who never played the series. Annd for Xbox360 box-art, I think it is commercial trick, becasuse how many only xbox360 owners are FF fans, I think it is very small group and because of that square decided thaht xbox box-art must be more atrractive or simple it must be sexier to attract more audience, because most of them don´t know what is FF. And I belive that most of PS3 owners know what is FF series and square do not worries about PS3 version sales. I belive that Xbox360 version will not be so succseful like PS3 version.